Victorian government announces funds for renewable energy projects

The Government of Victoria, Australia, has announced a total grant of $1m to set up numerous pilot community power hubs in the state, and to explore the possibility of producing renewable energy from Bendigo’s historic mineshafts.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced $900,000for setting up three, two-year pilot community power hubs in Bendigo, Ballarat and the Latrobe Valley.

D’Ambrosio said: “Interest in community energy projects has increased significantly over the years, with communities wanting greater control over their energy and associated costs.”

“Solar pumped hydro has the potential to store and generate significant amounts of energy. This feasibility study is the first key step towards realising the benefits of solar pumped hydro for the Bendigo region.”

The hubs will provide legal, technical expertise for the implementation of the projects.

Of the $1m, 100,000 is allocated for conducting a feasibility study on Bendigo’s historic mineshafts for the production of renewable energy.

This study will explore the feasibility of making use of solar powered pumped hydro to produce and store power.

The City of Greater Bendigo will grant a further $50,000 to support this study.

The government has invited expressions of interest for a pilot community power hub.